Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-01-16

champagne, which at the ball given last
night was simply eXecrable. None OF
the good champagne houses supply wine
for this ball, as they refuse to make the
enormous discount required by the wait
ers. The managers OF the ball take what
ever wine offers them the largest profits
and the a ,.ent who donates the largest
number Of bottles receives commission
to supply the ball. Besides this the
Champagne houses give the walters ~
cents Tor every cork they turn in the d&S
after the ball, land this is an additional In
ducement to the attendants TO force bad
champagne down peoples thrOats. IL
can readily be imagined that a ball OF
this style IS neither exclusive nor arlsto-
cratic. The fact is there was rather a
tough array OF citizens In the Academy
OF Music at this affair. There were =
thousand or two women OF every con-
! ceivable shape, color and attire who
danced aud made the blk barn-like
Academy, Nilsson Hall, hum with their
gayety. Many OF them were magnificent
| y dressed and not a few were women OF
striking and famous beauty. am sorry
to rim counter to a well defined theory,
but the fact is the ''French" balls of New
York are not half so wicked as the guile
less public is led to believe. The myrads OF
callow youths who were distinguished by
plentiful narrowness of chest and
vast eXDanse of mouth, stood around in
slim dress suits, and made praiseworthy
out utterly futile efforts to look like
hlase men OF the world. There were also
bald b. AIDED men, gray bearded men and
the portly fathers OF families who frisked
about with a jOyousness that caused the
thin lips of the callOw youths to curve
in naughty disdain, but, the old bows
seemed to enjoy themselves, which is
than no Of Gallo
youths. Occasionally on the floor one of
the dancers would lit her skirt an eighth
or an inch or 80 above the tOB OF
her boot or slipper. Then there would
follow rush OF several hundred men who
crowded around the dancer and glared a
her boot with Vivid intensity. ii this is
wicked, dashing and partaking in
measure OF revel, then may the EAmi-
tie be set down as a wicked French bali,
but between me and you and the little
stone church around the corner that is
the extent OF the wickedness and sin of
witch so much has been said and written.
The second ball, and the chief one of i'm
portance in the French colony here, is
that OF the Harmonic Club. 1t is gen
uine French ball maSQue. There are many
well-knoWn people present, the costumes
are gorgeous and the tickets are $40
apiece and cannot be had for anything
but bullion. Al the French residents OF
New York attend. Society women occa-
siona ly go we'll masked aud in the early
hours OF the morning tue ball not intre-
quenny develops into as brisk and roar
ing carnival as Paris Itself could show. 1t
is carnival OF bTight eyes flushed cheeks,
parted lips and twlpkliug heels inspired
ny the music OF great orchestra and the
bubbles OF good champagne, After the
Harmonic comes the LeiderkranZ, the
mask ball of a great German society
which occurs once a year. They take
Nilsson Hall. the Academy of Music and
IryjHg Hall, build enclosed bridges
across intervening streets and invite
many people of distinction. A very
large portion of the ladies who attend
are thoroughly respectable though fond of
d lark. and thousands OF dollars are spent
on costumes and decorations. After this,
the ArlOn ball, WHICH is simply great
carnival after. the fashion OF the New Or
leans Mardi Gpasl bold within doors.
Winds up the season. 1t ends IN dance
OF course. but it ID more of spectacle
than ball. The respectable balls oil
New York begin With the Charity of
which no description is needed at this
Lite day and end sWith the Sparkling
COterie, an association of what would be
called second class lpe0ple in England,
the knights Tempar bali, and the ball
OF the Old Guard a bedy OF stalwart vet
Grams Of the war;, who are men of wealth
as we'll as militiamen and FOUNDERS, good
liyers and hOspitable entertainers be-
side.
AMOS j. CUMMINGS AND BLAKELY HALL.